[2] Land to be used for the wildlife area was first acquired in 1963 to provide for hunting and other outdoor recreational activities in the county.

In addition to outdoor recreation activities, the wildlife area was established to protect the Fox River watershed.

[4] There are five different invasive species present in the Lake; the curly-leaf pondweed, eurasian water-milfoil, Japanese knotweed, purple loosestrife and zebra mussel.

[7][8] There are several different types of trees residing in the wildlife area, the most prominent being oak, maple, hemlock, and red pine.

Other flora besides trees include bur-reed, common reed grass, various bulrush, pickerel-weed and wild rice.